Underflow gravity-dam.



U. G. MGOOY. UNDERFLOW GRAVITY DAM APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, 1912 Patented July 30, 1912.

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Specification of'ftietters Patent.

Patented 3%, H3120 Application Jenna-r3 .23, 1812. fierisl Ne. 6723958] through impounding the some.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus for utilizing the force of gravity to raise underground water to the surface so that the'saine may be impounded and used for irrigation, and other purposes.

In the accompanying drawings like cheractors of reference indi'cdte like parts in the several views, and Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through an underground water-hearing stratum with the soil above and iinpervious stratum below, the section showing the apparatus used to carry out this process in position. Fig. 2 is a. front view of such on appurzrtus; Fig.3 is a. plan View of such an apparatus.

It is a well-known fact that in many sec-' tions of the country, especially in arid sections, water may be found at a certain depth below the surface permeating one or more strata. of the rock or earth, and almost in every instance the water permeated strata lies above on impervious stratum of clay, rock, or the like. N ow it is rare that there is not some dip in one direction or the other to this water bearingstratum sothst the Water in the stratum forms an under-ground stream.

In Fig. 1 there is shown o. wotenbenring stratum 10 having the usual superimposed. soil nndother material above as indicated ct 1i and an impervious stratum 12 below.

lit will be observed that the stream flow or: the water bearing stratum is in the direction of the arrow or down hill, as is natural. in order to raise this water to the surface of the ground without pumping I select a suitable valley wherein the water-bearing stratum dips as indicated in Fig. l and dig a trench which is if-seeped. in plan near the apex of the V downwsrd end the sides going.

out toward the sides of the valley. This trench is dug down through the water bearstrutum and somewhat into the impervious stratum to prevent leakage around the base as will be hereinafter fully explained. A concrete or other dam is then erected in this ditch and the cross section of this dam may he of any suitable shape to conform to the varying conditions of the soil, etc.

The dam herein shown is indicated at 13 and the cross section forms oplain reetangu 121' well which is suitable for low heads of water. It will, of course, be obvious that where the height is greater the form must be varied in accordance with engineering principles.

This dam is carried down to the bottom of the ditch so that no water can pass beneath it as noted above. Above the ground the dam is carried up until the top is well above the highest point of the water bearing stratum from which it is desired to collect the water. carried out sufliciently to entirely interrupt the underground flow whenever possible. For instance, let it be supposed that the underground stratum is approximately onelislt mile in Width. Then the apex of the dam. might be located two miles below the highest. point of the underground stream and the wings'ot' the darn carried out until separated at their upper ends the ..hslf mile necessary to collect the Water of the stratum.

"lhe dam is provided at its lower end with the usual spill water 14 end from points adjacentthe apex run pipes 15 for the conveyance of the collection of water to irri gotion ditches, farm houses, or the like.

In the operation of the device water flowing down the Water bearing stratum is interrupted in its course by the darn. It will then naturally seek its level and will rise through the pervious overlying stratum until he water at the apex of the dam is at the some height as the water at the highest point where it desired to impound the. same. There will thus be formed. a pond owi ro the forcing of this water through the overlying stratum and the water in this pond can be utilized for such purposes as may he desired.

The wings of the dam are wit is obvious th'it different forms of a.

dam may he used since the difference in the contour of the land, dip of the underground H 5 is claimed as new, is:-

A dam for underground waters consisting of a V-shaped structure sunk in the earth a sutficient distance to intercept an underground stream, the mouth of the V being 10 directed up-stream, the point of the V being elevated above the surfacevof the earth and provided with openings therein, and a notch at the apex thereof, all as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ULYSSES GRANT MCCUY. Witnesses:

JOHN D. HOPPER, E. L. SMon.

' Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

'- Washington, D. 0." 

